PEWS NEWS The Benefice FORTHCOMING SERVICES St Mary Magdalene with Stuchbury & St Lawrence , St James the Great Saturday 11th September with St John the Evangelist Whitfield, St Mary & St Peter Lois Weedon with Weston & 4pm Syresham Service of Remembrance Plumpton, and St Mary the Virgin . www.astwellparishes.org.uk Sunday 12th September – 15th Sunday after Trinity https://www.facebook.com/astwellbenefice/

8.30am Online Morning Prayer 9.30am Lois Weedon Matins th 10am Helmdon Holy Communion Sunday 5 September 2021 10 -12 Whitfield Private Prayer 11am Syresham Morning Worship 14th Sunday after Trinity 11.15am Wappenham Breakfast Church/ Morning Worship 11.30am Lois Weedon Baptism of Beresford and Today’s Services: Erasmus children

2pm Whitfield Baptism of George Cooper 8.30am Online Morning Prayer 6.30pm Plumpton Summer Evensong 11am Syresham Induction of Sunday 19th September – 16th Sunday after Trinity Revd Diane Whittaker and Benefice Communion, 8.30am Online Morning Prayer followed by a Bring & 9.30am Lois Weedon Matins Share Lunch at The Priory 9.30am Whitfield Morning Worship 10am Helmdon Holy Communion 11am Syresham Morning Worship To access online services, please 11.15am Wappenham Breakfast Church/ use this Zoom link: Morning Worship https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85894936136?pwd=Y Sunday 26th September – 17th Sunday after Trinity W5qSWo4MEw5Q1dvUG9WWTdabkNjdz09 Meeting ID: 858 9493 6136 8.30am Online Morning Prayer Passcode: 011195 10am Helmdon Holy Communion 10 -12 Whitfield Private Prayer 11am Syresham Prayer & Praise Services will be available on Facebook approximately one 11.15am Wappenham Harvest Festival & hour after ‘live-stream’ on Zoom. https://www.facebook.com/astwellbenefice/ Holy Communion 6pm Lois Weedon Benefice Evensong

NOTICES: Please note that Revd Diane’s day off is Friday - please contact your churchwarden or Sarah Rudkin in her absence.

§ An Open Meeting for discussion and final voting on the formation of a United Benefice Online Benefice Prayer Meeting will be held on Monday 6th September at 7pm Please join Revd Diane on Monday evenings at at Syresham Sports & Social Club. An agenda 6pm using the following Zoom link: for the meeting is attached with this edition of https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85894936136?pw the Pews News. d=YW5qSWo4MEw5Q1dvUG9WWTdabkNjdz09 Meeting ID: 890 3407 6266 Passcode: 545720 § Midweek Holy Communion Services will be

held at Helmdon at 10am on Wednesday Dial by your location: 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th September. +44 203 901 7895

+44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom +

The Collect and Readings 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched th for 14 Sunday after Trinity his tongue. 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ 35And Collect: immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36Then Jesus ordered Almighty God, them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the whose only Son has opened for us more zealously they proclaimed it. 37They were a new and living way into your presence: astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done give us pure hearts and steadfast wills everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the to worship you in spirit and in truth; mute to speak.’ through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, New Testament Reading: James 2:1-17 in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 1 one God, now and for ever. My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a Christ? 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of ‘Be strong, do not fear! the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat Here is your God. here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, He will come with vengeance, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, 4have you not made with terrible recompense. distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with He will come and save you.’ evil thoughts?5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has and the ears of the deaf unstopped; promised to those who love him? 6But you have 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. you? Is it not they who drag you into court?7Is it not they For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked and streams in the desert; over you? 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; 8 You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as the grass shall become reeds and rushes. yourself.’ 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become New Testament Reading: Mark 7:24-37 accountable for all of it. 11For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you 24 From there he set out and went away to the region of 12 Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25but 13 a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit law of liberty. For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed judgement. down at his feet.26Now the woman was a Gentile, of

Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you demon out of her daughter. 27He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 28But she 16 answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their children’s crumbs.’ 29Then he said to her, ‘For saying bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, that, you may go—the demon has left your 30 if it has no works, is dead. daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Post Communion Collect:

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went Lord God, the source of truth and love, by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region keep us faithful to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, of the Decapolis. 32They brought to him a deaf man who united in prayer and the breaking of bread, had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him and one in joy and simplicity of heart, to lay his hand on him. in Jesus Christ our Lord.

TO HOLD IN YOUR Prayers by Hannah Fowles PRAYERS THIS WEEK:

Lord, you reign supreme over all the earth and so we We bring before our loving heavenly Father those in boldly ask for protection of all who are working for our villages and others we know who are unwell, liberty and freedom, all who are risking their lives for recovering from illness and all those who need our justice and peace. So many countries are ravaged by war, prayers for any reason during this difficult time: governed by corrupt governments where people live in fear of violence or torture. For all those caught up in the From Helmdon: Joyce Beech, Philip Gulliver, Emma, unfolding devastation in Afghanistan; the military, the Jon, Ellouise, Lilly & James, Barbara Buxton, Diane people in fear for their lives, the women and the Thorpe, Vanessa Vicars, John Thorne, Alison & Cara, children; we humbly ask that you will surround them Margaret Reardon, David Bowen-Jones, and Claire & with your protective arms and give them hope in the face family. of adversity. May all who arrive in this country be shown compassion and safe refuge as they begin to build new From Lois Weedon & Weston: Joan Jacobs, Lis lives in a foreign land. Cockrell, Jeremy “Jez” Wilcox, Jenni Liversidge, John Maleham, Elsie Hatton & family, Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer John Busby, Lloyd Callaghan and Jean Parks.

From Syresham: Derek Hollyoake, Peter Sims, Lord, we stand alongside all who are hurting in body, John Widdowson, Collette Andrewartha, mind or spirit; all who need courage, support or practical Victor Brooks & Irene Holgate. help. Our thoughts are especially with those who have become frail and weak; those whose eyesight is failing; From Wappenham: Judy King and Claire Kennett. those who find it difficult to hear. Teach us to be watchful for their needs and patient with their frailty and For those known to us: slowness, loving and serving them as honoured members Pauline Collis, Christopher Carr, Evelyn Johnson, of your family. May the skills and knowledge of all who Jonnie D’Arcy, James Smillie, Peter Sheen, Penny care for the sick in hospitals, care homes, hospices and at Bonnymeade, Barbara Whitlock, Ollie Dotterill, home, be fully used to help and to heal. Marina & Froede Amundsen, Cara Wilson, Chloë Fletcher, Sam & Jackie Cowlishaw, Francis Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer Potsoni and his father.

Please pray for those bereaved, and the family & Lord, we thank you for the ministry of Diane as her friends of: induction is carried out this week and she Bob Wallace, Baby Anna, Andy Seckington, Win Wood, officially becomes part of our community. Bless her with Liz Threlfall, Ernie Wheeler, Dennis Read, Gillian the desire to search for wisdom, grow in faith Clube, Barry Pocock, Doris Street, Stan Howell, Doug and bless her with the refreshment that comes from Hatton, Jayden Shaler, Winnie Varney, Alex Paterson, knowing and trusting you Lord, to guide and lead. As Ann Widdowson, Christine Cason, Jack Hawkins, John she begins her work in our Snow, Pat Johnson,, David Sheppard, Steve Goodwin, benefice may she find strength and peace in the pages of Dorothy D'Alton (nee Abbot), Sally Gore, Teresa your word, through the Holy Spirit and Fleetwood, James Gadd, Ron Pratt, Margaret Hinton, through the fellowship of her new parishes. Judith Allen, Marcus Durant, Tom Samways, Greg Oles, Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer Mike Durant, Stewart Gundle, Ian Kidd, Richard Tims, Peter Payne, Ivan Hathaway, Robin Oliver, Sue Corbishley, Jason Holt & Shirley Holt, Dennis Hackett, Dick Wilson, Mark Kilby, Keith Hawkins. Also, for the Bearman family, Susan Clarke & family, Kathryn and Peter Oliver, & Geoff and Jo Abbey.

Also, please pray for the work of the Beacon Centre, the Wolverton Mission, the Hope Centre, Katharine House Hospice, Northampton Women's Aid and The Women’s Refuge. We also continue to pray for all refugees fleeing persecution, all victims of terror, and all those affected by the Covid-19 virus.

2021 Diary Dates BENEFICE CONTACTS All events are subject to the prevailing Covid-19 restrictions

Rector: September

Revd Diane Whittaker Mon 6th Open Meeting for Final Vote on United Benefice, Tel: 01327 226245 7pm, Syresham Sports & Social Club Email: [email protected] Sat 11th Wappenham Village Fete Sun 12th Baptism of Beresford & Erasmus children, 11.30am, Lois Weedon Wiggy Smith, Reader [email protected]/Tel: Baptism of George Cooper, 2pm, Whitfield 01295 760953 Paul Stothard, Reader Mon 13th BPCC Meeting, 7.15pm, Wappenham V Hall [email protected]/Tel: 01295 760816 Sun 26th Harvest Festival, 11.15am, Wappenham Bill Elkington: Lay chair and Benefice PCC [email protected]/Tel: 01295 760438 October

Judith Elkington ([email protected]): Sun 3rd TBC Harvest Festival, 5pm, Syresham BPCC, BRICC, Deanery & Benefice Communications Sun 10th Harvest Festival, 10am, Helmdon Alice Palmer: All financial matters Harvest Festival & Supper, 6pm, Whitfield [email protected]/Tel: 01280 850252 Sun 17th Harvest Festival, 9.30am, Lois Weedon Rachel Wheeler, Benefice Safeguarding Officer [email protected]/Tel: 01295 768613 Sarah Rudkin: Parishes Administrator & Pews News Regular Events: [email protected]/Tel: 01327 830965 - Mums & Tots at Helmdon Church - Thursdays 10am – 12pm during term time Churchwardens (for individual church matters):

Helmdon: Bill Elkington ([email protected]) & Cliff Netten ([email protected]) Lois Weedon & Weston: Frank Hunter Please send details of Benefice committee ([email protected]) meetings, fetes, fund-raising events and all Radstone: Penny Bonner regular gatherings to ([email protected]) [email protected] Syresham: Malcolm Orr-Ewing ([email protected]) Wappenham: Edwin King ([email protected]) & Sheena Warren ([email protected]) Whitfield: Claire Bonner ([email protected])

Scan this QR code to link to the ‘Giving Page’ of the Astwell Benefice Benefice website. All donations go directly to Group of Churches supporting mission and ministry in the Benefice

If you need to talk to someone, please do ring one of us. FOOD BANK VOUCHERS Revd Diane can provide vouchers for and Food Banks Diane Whittaker (Rector): 01327 226245 for anyone in need in Helmdon, Lois Weedon & Weston, Paul Stothard (Reader): 01295 760816 Radstone, Syresham, Wappenham, Whitfield and the Wiggy Smith (Reader): 01295 760953 surrounding area. Please contact her for details